Powering Homes news, page 18
- January 2026
Appliance energy calculator updated
Smart Energy GB's appliance energy calculator, which compares running costs across three price cap periods, was last updated on 1 January 2026, with the current cap shown as £43 a month.
New benchmark consumption takes effect in the price cap
Ofgem has updated the assumed household consumption figures used to set the energy price cap, cutting the gas benchmark to 11,500 kWh and electricity to 2,700 kWh from 1 January 2026.
BUS to include air-to-air heat pumps by early 2026
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme will pay £2,500 towards air-to-air heat pumps in domestic properties from early 2026, with heat batteries added later and the scheme extended to 2030.
Comprehensive assessment of the MCS Customer Commitment expected in early 2026
The government expects to assess the MCS Customer Commitment in early 2026 before deciding whether to recognise it as a consumer code for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Debt Relief Scheme to launch in early 2026
Ofgem has set the energy price cap for 1 January to 31 March 2026 and confirmed a Debt Relief Scheme for around 195,000 people on means-tested benefits will launch in early 2026.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapGrants and Schemes
DEFRA minister says no final decision made on wood-burning stove ban
A DEFRA minister said in January 2026 that no final decision had been made on banning wood-burning stoves, as a consultation on cutting domestic burning emissions runs.
Domestic price cap falls to £1,758 for January to March 2026
Ofgem's price cap for January to March 2026 is set at £1,758 a year for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household, down from £1,849 in April 2025 as wholesale costs eased.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
ECO4 end date extended to 31 December 2026 with no additional funding
The Warm Homes Plan confirms ECO4 will run until 31 December 2026 rather than ending on 31 March, with no additional funding attached to the extension.
Energy prices rose on New Year's Day for standard tariff households
Energy prices rose on New Year's Day for millions of households on standard tariffs, according to Uswitch, which puts the average annual cost of common energy habits at £625.
Existing Targets Framework to cease to have effect
The four-year smart meter Targets Framework ends on 1 January 2026, with no further annual installation targets set for suppliers, under post-2025 proposals from the government.
Financial vulnerability rises as "doing well" share falls for the first time since 2023
Ofgem's January 2026 survey shows the share of households classified as doing well fell from 53% to 44%, the first drop since 2023, with financial vulnerability back to January 2025 levels.
Funding confirmed to 2029/30 through the Warm Homes Plan
Government statistics confirm Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding runs to 2029/30 under the Warm Homes Plan, with £400 million allocated for 2026/27 and over £560 million paid out in the first four years.
Government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount concluded
A government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount has concluded, with changes to the scheme made in response from April 2026 onwards.
Government publishes Warm Homes Plan covering off-gas-grid homes
The January 2026 Warm Homes Plan set out its approach to homes off the gas grid under a rural communities heading, with Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants at the centre of the discussion.
Next price cap change due on 1 January 2026
The energy price cap rose 2% on 1 October 2025 to £1,755 a year for a typical household, and changes again on 1 January 2026, with the next level due by 25 November.
Ofgem publishes letter and guide for energy suppliers and debt advice providers
Ofgem has published a letter to energy suppliers and a guide for suppliers and debt advice providers after failing to agree a voluntary Code of Practice on debt support.
Ofgem to regulate heat networks
Ofgem becomes the regulator for heat networks across England, Scotland and Wales from January 2026, with consumer protection rules commencing on 27 January and the Energy Ombudsman already handling disputes.
Partial response to Energy Performance of Buildings regime reforms consultation published
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published a post-implementation review of the 2012 Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations for England and Wales, covering January 2018 to January 2023.
Phase 1 SLCs expected to come into force
Ofgem expects the first phase of its Debt Relief Scheme special licence conditions to come into force in January 2026, with applications opening to households on means-tested benefits in the first quarter of the year.
UK public charger count exceeds 115,000
Zapmap data for January 2026 puts the UK public charging network above 115,000 devices, including 26,557 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers spread across 6,673 locations.
SMMT says gap between EV demand and ZEV mandate ambition is increasing
The SMMT said in its January 2026 release on 2025 car sales that the gap between electric vehicle demand and the ambition of the UK's zero emission vehicle mandate is increasing rather than diminishing.
UKERC publishes Review of Energy Policy 2025
UKERC's Review of Energy Policy 2025 attributes most of a £169 real-terms rise in typical electricity bills to wholesale gas prices, and backs the decision against zonal pricing.
Unexpectedly high bills increase to 26%
Ofgem's Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey for January 2026 shows the share of households reporting an unexpectedly high bill rose to 26 per cent, from 24 per cent in July and August 2025.
Which? publishes 2026 energy supplier survey results
Which? published its 2026 energy company survey results in January 2026, naming four Which? Recommended Providers from a survey of nearly 12,000 customers and its own assessment of supplier practices.
- December 2025
Boiler Upgrade Scheme closes to applicants
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed to new applicants in England and Wales on 31 December 2025, ending a grant worth up to £7,500 towards a heat pump.
SSEN activates Weather Warning level of preparedness in northern Scotland
SSEN has moved to its first level of heightened preparedness across northern Scotland ahead of forecast snow, ice and wind gusts of up to 65mph, with extra teams deployed.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere Our Energy Comes From
Switch 4 Business Ltd listed as inactive on Energy Ombudsman dispute page
The Energy Ombudsman's dispute page lists the energy broker Switch 4 Business Ltd as inactive, with a membership period that ended on 31 December 2025.
NGN reports Centres for Warmth supporting thousands across the North of England this winter
Northern Gas Networks has marked a second winter of its Centres for Warmth programme, saying 20 funded community hubs have given thousands of people across the North of England warm space and energy advice.
London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles due to end
The London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles ends on 25 December 2025, after which electric cars entering central London will pay a discounted daily charge rather than nothing.
E.ON Next announces partnership with Allume to bring shared solar to flats
E.ON Next has announced a partnership with Australian cleantech firm Allume to offer SolShare shared rooftop solar to blocks of flats, targeting social housing providers and new build developers.